With Lockout Looming, Players Have Every Right to Stand Their Ground

I'm not an economics major. I can't break down the effects of escrow, of inflation, of revenue sharing. I am, however, a hockey fan. And I can tell you the effects of things like escrow, inflation, and revenue sharing when the National Hockey League locks out it's players over them. As we sit a few hours away from the expiration of the current Collective Bargaining Agreement, the NHL is again staring a work stoppage in the face. But this time, more so than in 2004-2005, the NHL has everything to lose. Not only are we staring down another long, cold winter, but the NHL may find itself staring down many more to come.

The fact is this: the owners won the last lockout. The players caved and took a salary cap, pay cuts, and in exchange for that, they got to play hockey. But this time the players, unified by former MLBPA head Donald Fehr, are a much more coherent and organized group and ready to stand their ground. And frankly, they have every right to.

The owners are trying to reconcile for their own mistakes. Front-loaded, cap circumventing, and bloated contracts dealt out year after year by owners with deep pockets have exposed the flaws in the last CBA. But now the owners, who are guilty of signing Mike Komisarek to a 5 year/$22.5 million contract, Ville Leino to a 6 year/$27 million contract, and Brian Campbell to an 8 year/$57 million contract (which doesn't look so bad in hindsight), are scrambling to cover for their own mistakes. And they're asking the players to cover for them.

This is like the teacher not knowing the material and asking the student to blame a learning disorder for their bad grades. It's awful. And we, as fans, should not stand for it. Why should we? We already lost one season as billionaire owners fought millionaire players and ultimately won. And now the owners are asking the players to take more pay cuts, shorter contracts, an restrict their unrestricted free agency because the owners have no clue how to spend when July 1st comes. The players have no reason to give into what the owners want--the players have proposed a 50/50 split of hockey-related revenue, which seems fair. But no, the owners want more. And will continue to want more.

I've heard a gripe in the Twittersphere about the players being greedy and not just playing the game they love because they make millions. True, hockey players make a lot of money. But players with 10 year/$100 million contracts are the exception, not the rule. What about the players who make $500,000, bounce back and forth between the AHL and NHL, and never get the chance to sign that multi-million dollar deal? Hockey players have a short window to make their money. While a 2 year/$1 million contract sounds great to most of us, what happens when that contact is up and a player is out of a job? Someone who makes $50,000 a year at their desk job will make that same amount in 20 years, and then continue to make that 20 years later because desk jobs can't be ended with a blown knee. The point is, the players have every right to fight for every dime because this is their one shot to make their money. Many, many pro athletes live normal lives after they retire because not all of them made $100 million in their careers. And so the players, the ones that make $1 million in a career, have every right to stand up to the owners who are already billionaires.

The players, behind Donald Fehr (above)
 are standing firm this time.

Owning an NHL team is not a wise business decision. Many teams operate at a loss and that's to be expected. But how can anyone say that the owners are in a bad place? The Minnesota Wild cried foul in April, saying the CBA must be changed because despite all their sellouts, Minnesota still lost money last season. Everyone nods their heads in agreement. Lord, it must change! These teams are selling out and not making money and woeisthelifeofanNHLownerand WAIT! The Wild spent $200 million on two players this past summer. Believe me when I say that NHL owners are just fine. The players are right and the players are still making concessions, yet the owners want more. And unfortunately the owners can't grasp that without said players, they have no product. They don't have 18,000 people filling the arena at $90 per ticket. The fans want to see the players play, and because of this, the owners get a paycheck.

I can't speak for everyone, but I can't do this. I've conceded the NHL will miss a month or two or three. I don't think that we'll lose an entire season again--the NHL has too much at stake with a 100,000 seat Winter Classic lined up in Michigan, with a $2 billion television deal with NBC (who starts airing games in November), and with the simple fact that the NHL has gone from a $2 billion business to a $3.3 billion business since the last lockout. The game has grown and to lose all of that to another lockout would be foolish.

Some have predicted the lockout will last up to 18 months. I, for one, will never give the NHL another dime if a season, or more, is lost. But the players, behind Donald Fehr, are in this for the long run. The players will fight for every last dime from the owners, even if it takes a year or more. Forgive me if I don't stick around to see how it ends.

5 NHL Coaches Who May Be Collecting Unemployment Come April

Coaching in the NHL is a difficult position. No matter how many injuries, bad breaks, and coach-killers in your locker room, your job is perpetually in peril, especially if you sign on to coach the Los Angeles Kings (who have had more coaches than playoff victories since GM Dean Lombardi took over). Which coaches are in jeopardy of becoming fry cooks this off-season? Let's examine:

Brent Sutter, Calgary Flames

The Flames are in desperate need of a rebuild. Their core is aging, the prospect pool has dwindled, and they have been ineffective under Sutter's reign. The Flames will need a big late-season push to make the post-season this season and GM Jay Feaster stood pat at the trade deadline earlier this week. Sutter will likely take the fall for the Flames shortcomings, as they haven't made the playoffs since Sutter took the job in 2009-2010. It's time for a shake-up in Calgary; a shake-up that could see long-time heroes Miikka Kiprusoff and Jarome Iginla on their way out the door. Likely to precede them, however, is Brent Sutter.

Lindy Ruff, Buffalo Sabres

Lindy Ruff waving good-bye to his job in Buffalo?

No coach has managed to hang on to his job despite such limited success as Lindy Ruff. Yes, Ruff is a good NHL coach. He has been the Sabres coach since 1997, and usually when coaches stay in one place for 15 years they win something. Ruff has as many Stanley Cups as I do and for those of you who don't me too well I actually haven't won a Stanley Cup. But with new owner Terry Pegula's huge off-season spending coupled with the lack of on-ice success, it may be time for a change in philosophy in Buffalo. Pegula has stood behind his coach, but one wonders if and when patience will run short in Sabreville.

Randy Cunneyworth, Montreal Canadiens


Unfortunately for Cunneyworth, this may be out of his control. Canadiens fans are begging for a bi-lingual coach. Cunneyworth might want to hop on that Rosetta Stone if he wants to maintain his job. Cunneyworth is a good coach who deserves a shot somewhere. But the Canadiens are bringing up the rear in the Eastern Conference as I type this, and in a city with such deep hockey tradition as Montreal, that is simply unacceptable. Cunneyworth may be next on the chopping block, if not for the lack of success but for his monolingual tongue.

Ron Wilson, Toronto Maple Leafs


The Maple Leafs are in a rebuild--a perennial rebuild to some--and are in danger of missing the playoffs again. They haven't made the post-season since before the lockout and someone will have to take the fall. Ron Wilson is a great coach, but it's time to shake things up in Toronto. The Leafs have slipped to five points out of the playoff race, partial due to an inept penalty kill (29th in the league at 76.5%) and horrid team defense (28th in the NHL at 3.08 GA/G) and goaltenders with save percentages that look like good batting averages in baseball. As the Leafs look to remodel their future, it appears as though Ron Wilson may not be a part of it, especially when Air Canada Centre has given up on "Go Leafs Go" chants and replaced them with cries of "Fire Wilson".

Todd McLellan, San Jose Sharks


The Sharks are always an enigma, registering great regular seasons to follow it up with playoff disappointment. The Sharks have a three point lead on a playoff spot, which could disintegrate at any moment in a tight Western Conference. The Sharks will likely be on the road to start the playoffs and if the season ended today they would be matched up with Detroit, a likely first round exit. If the Sharks miss the playoffs or even if they are eliminated in the first round, it's likely change is imminent in San Jose. The Sharks PK is 27th in the NHL despite being shorthanded fewer than any other team in the NHL. To make matters worse, the Sharks have the 6th-worst record in one-goal games. The only teams worse are Edmonton, Los Angeles, Montreal, Columbus, and Carolina. If you're trying to keep your job, that's not a group you want to be in. With so much talent and so little results, heads will likely roll come April in San Jose.

Jeff Carter Dealt, Trade Deadline Heating Up

The first huge domino has fallen in the 2012 trade hysteria. Jeff Carter was moved last night to the Los Angeles Kings, who fell out of the Rick Nash race presumably due to the high asking price. The Blue Jackets get a first round pick and defenseman Jack Johnson who fortifies the Columbus blue line while giving them another opportunity to pick in the first round. Knee-jerk reaction: the Jackets win this one. The Kings are not deep enough on the blue line to  be dealing Johnson, which may come back to bite them. Carter will definitely benefit from a change of scenery after playing his way out of Columbus, which really speaks to the character of the player. Essentially the Kings are getting a 30-goal scorer with character issues while the Jackets get a young, quality defenseman and a mid-to-late first rounder in exchange for a player who never really wanted to play for them anyway. Solid flip by Columbus. Now onto the Rick Nash hysteria...

-I hold firm in my belief that Rick Nash will not be moved before the deadline. Too much magnitude, too many moving parts. The Leafs and Rangers are still considered front runners, but I don't believe either team will want to part with what Columbus is asking--at least not at this time. Columbus needs top notch, young, NHL-ready talent in return and swinging a deal like that will most likely take place closer to the draft.

-The Hurricanes have re-signed Tuomo Ruutu for four years, with a no-trade clause for the first three. This takes him off the trade market for this year, presumably. Jaroslav Spacek and Bryan Allen could still be on the move out of Raleigh, but the Canes are sitting 8 points behind Florida for 8th with a home game against the Panthers tomorrow. The Canes, while not buyers by any stretch, aren't as likely to blow things up as they were a month or so ago. Keeping their core intact seems to the mission of GM Jim Rutherford, so outside of either Spacek or Allen, I don't see Carolina making a big splash come deadline day.

The Bruins have struggled to score in the abscence
of Nathan Horton.

-Boston's offense has been stagnant without Rich Peverley and Nathan Horton. This is no secret. But can it be alleviated through the trade market? Antoine Vermette and Ruutu are off the market, so where can they turn? Ray Whitney is rumored to be involved, but the odds are better he stays in Phoenix, especially with the Bruins not wanting to part with any top prospects. Ales Hemsky can score some goals, but the asking price will likely be out of the Bruins league. The knee-seeking missile that is Steve Ott would be a nice fit in Boston and it would certainly be fun to hear Jack Edwards sing his praises. GM Peter Charelli will have some finagling to do, but the Bruins need to pull the plug on any trade that will help jump-start them in their repeat quest.

-Dustin Brown appears to be off the market in Los Angeles. Brown, the Kings captain, has two years left on his contract in LA and it appears GM Dean Lombardi has opted not to move their leader after the Jeff Carter trade. That being said, the Kings aren't scoring goals and anything they can do to facilitate that will catch Lombardi's ear. Ultimately I think that Brown will stay, but it will be an interesting subplot to the deadline frenzy.

We'll have more to come as developments break over the weekend!

GOH

NHL Trade Deadline Wrap-Up

Things are swirling in all directions as the NHL Trade Deadline heats up, with a couple of big names being floated around. Let's dive right in, as we only have six (SIX!!) days until the NHL deadline next Monday.

-On the Rick Nash front, I really can't see him being moved mid-season. He has six years left on his deal and a $7.8 million cap hit with the Blue Jackets. This isn't just a rental player, this is essentially Rick Nash in his prime for the next six seasons. Columbus has stated a goalie isn't a necessity in return, but the reality is a goaltender will likely be required to land the big right winger. Los Angeles has the pieces; I could see Jonathan Bernier, 21-year-old Andrei Lotkionov, young defenseman Alec Martinez or Slava Voynov, and a first round pick bringing Nash to the west coast. But the reality is the asking price for Nash will be steep and deals of this magnitude are seldom completed mid-season, let alone at the trade deadline. VERDICT: Nash stays put--for now.


-Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford has stated that he has given Tuomo Ruutu a few days to mull over his contract offer before putting Ruutu on the market. Ruutu could fetch a strong return in either Boston or Ottawa, but Ruutu could also be an attractive piece for Columbus who are in the midst of a tumultuous rebuild. Ruutu is 29 and has an expiring contract, but the two-time 20-goal scorer would be an asset to several teams. If a deal doesn't get done with Carolina, a 2nd round pick and a B-grade prospect could be exchanged for Ruutu. VERDICT: Ruutu is a Senator come deadline day.

-Also on the Hurricanes front, defenseman Bryan Allen and Jaroslav Spacek both have expiring contracts after this season. With Joni Pitkanen ready to go by next week, the Canes will have an expendable defenseman. A contract with Allen can likely be worked out and I think the Canes are intent on keeping him. The 36-year-old Spacek, who was acquired for Tomas Kaberle earlier this season, has less of a connection with the franchise. Spacek would be a nice rental for a team in need of a defenseman and the price will probably be a little less steep for him than it would be for a stay-at-home, gritty guy in Allen. Spacek brings a little bit of offensive flair that Allen doesn't but isn't the defensive defenseman Allen is. VERDICT: Allen stays through deadline day, Spacek is moved. Possibly to Chicago.

Hemsky could be on the move after two
injury-plagued seasons in EDM.

-Speaking of Chicago, I'm not sure where the Patrick Kane rumors came from but they should probably be debunked. Kane, along with Jonathan Toews, are the face of the Blackhawks. Seeing Kane moved is extremely, extremely unlikely. The Hawks have had their struggles of late, but the Blackhawks with Patrick Kane are a far better team than the Blackhawks with anyone they would  get back in return. Unless, of course, it's that media-friendly Kane-for-Ryan Miller swap we've all been hearing about. VERDICT: Kane stays put.

-One name that has flown under the radar is Edmonton Oilers winger Ales Hemsky. Hemsky is in the final year of his contract and has had two injury-riddled seasons the last two years in Edmonton. Hemsky would be a nice piece for a contender looking to add a 20-goal scorer heading into the playoffs. If the Kings were wise they would invest less assets in adding Hemsky than adding that of Rick Nash. Los Angeles would still get their desired offensive pop without mortgaging the future the way they would to acquire someone of Rick Nash's stature. VERDICT: Hemsky to Los Angeles.

-The Toronto Maple Leafs are currently sitting in a tie for the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference, and if the Leafs want to return to the playoffs for the first time since the lockout, now is as good of a time as any. The always brash GM Brian Burke will be active in finding a piece that can help his team now and in the future. Mikhail Grabovski could be on the  block, but his value to Toronto this season may be greater than what they could get in return. Rumors have floated Luke Schenn's name on the block, but I can't foresee that happening either. The Leafs would like to add offensive punch--James Van Riemsdyk comes to mind, and perhaps Schenn could be the addition to the Flyers back end they so desperately long for in Chris Pronger's absence. As active as Burke may be, it's hard to imagine the Leafs pulling off anything of blockbuster magnitude over the next week. VERDICT: Leafs stay put, for the most part. Paul Gaustad could be a potential target, so don't expect the leafs to be completely silent.


That's all for now..I'll try and stay updated as frequently as possible. Let the trade deadline fun begin!

News & Notes Heading Into All-Star Weekend

I'll be away for most of the weekend, so let's touch on some headlines heading into All-Star Weekend.

-First off, Jeff Carter is on the trade block and like, what? Shortly after the Jackets trade away Jakub Voracek, a third round pick, and a first-rounder that ended up being Sean Couturier, the Jackets want to deal him? Columbus is an absolute mess and they won't get nearly what they gave up when they trade Carter considering teams know they're not dealing from a position of power. Tough times to be a Jackets fan, that's for sure.

-Logan Couture was picked last in the All-Star Fantasy Draft. Think Sharks GM Doug Wilson will whine to the media?

-The Maple Leafs signed JM Liles to an extension. If he blows out his knee tomorrow his new contract is still better money than Jeff Finger's deal.

Alyonka Larionov's spot in the Fantasy Draft
wasn't too interesting, but she's still eye candy
for hockey fans.

-I know it's old news, but I haven't touched on Tim Thomas skipping the White House trip with the Stanley Cup champion Bruins. My view? I don't even care, or even necessarily disagree with Thomas' political stance. This is bigger than politics, however, and unfortunately it detracted away from a special moment with this team. He absolutely should have attended.

-Hockey is as popular as the NBA. Could have fooled me...if I was the guy who only watched Sportscenter's Top 10 highlights this morning.

-The Fantasy Draft was interesting, but my plea for next year: more captains with pulses. Chara and Alfredsson are great players but more cookie cutter personalities. More Patty Kane, less Chara next year, please.

-My other plea: less Alyonka Larionov. Unless she's in a bikini.

-Gary Bettman is still trying to keep the Coyotes in Glendale. Obviously exciting news for Coyotes fans and hopefully they can get that hammered out to keep the 'Yotes where they stand. That being said, as most of you know, I'll be a little bitter if they stay.

-Dave Hodge getting bold and getting all 1950 on us. I don't agree with Thomas's decisions either, but eh...

More to come in the near future!

Blow It Up?

For the Montreal Canadiens, Tampa Bay Lightning, and Anaheim Ducks, their positions in the standings are unfamiliar: the bottom. This is a Montreal team with 24 Cups, countless Hall of Famers, and an incredibly effective post-lockout team. For Tampa, it's a team that won a Stanley Cup just 8 years ago and was a win away from the Stanley Cup last year. Anaheim just won their first Stanley Cup in 2007 and boasted what was the best line in hockey of Corey Perry, Ryan Getzlaf, and Bobby Ryan to accompany other studs such as Teemu Selanne and goaltender Jonas Hiller. But these three teams, in particular, are strangers to the cellar. What is the problem, and more importantly, what is the answer?

The Canadiens have hamstrung themselves badly over the years. First the Mike Cammalleri signing and his obnoxious $6 million cap hit. That goes along with Scott Gomez's remarkable $7.357 cap hit which has seen him tally 19 goals in 170 games with the Canadiens. Tomas Plekanec and Brian Gionta each have $5 million cap hits, pushing the Canadiens to the cap threshold and leaving them with little room for flexibility while their free agent prizes flounder. The Canadiens have gotten away from what made them successful post-lockout. In 2005-2006, the year after the lockout under Claude Julien, the Canadiens roster featured guys like Michael Ryder, Saku Koivu, Mike Ribiero and Andrei Markov as four of their five leading scorers. What did they all have in common? They were all Montreal draft picks. The Canadiens built a quick, exciting team with their own guys before opening their check books and wasting millions upon millions. The Canadiens would serve themselves well to attempt to move their high priced assets (as with Mike Cammalleri last week) and add as many picks and prospects as possible to restock the cupboards. The Canadiens are not in need of a full-blown rebuild, but they are a few pieces away from getting themselves back into contention. The lesson from this, as the New York Rangers learned pre-lockout: NHL free agency is ineffective in building a team. It can only help bolster a roster into a Stanley Cup contender, not build one.

The Dwayne Roloson experiment is failing miesrably this
season in Tampa.

The Lightning are in a slightly different situation. They have a solid core of young guns in Steven Stamkos and Victor Hedman, Vincent Lecavalier is still lighting it up and Marty St. Louis doesn't seem to want to age. But the Lightning have struggled to find a netminder since Nikolai Khabibulin left, struggling through with starters like John Grahame, John Holmqvist, Marc Denis, Mike Smith, Antero Nittimaki, and now Dwayne Roloson. Roloson had a magical playoff run last season but his age (he's 42) is starting to show. He's posted a 3.68 GAA in 23 games this season and Mathieu Garon, who has taken over the bulk of starting, hasn't fared much better with a 3.02 GAA in 31 games played. The future doesn't look much brighter. Dustin Tokarski is Tampa's best goaltending prospect and has been toiling in the AHL for a couple of seasons since leaving the WHL. Even he has question marks about his small frame and isn't an immediate fix. So what is GM Steve Yzerman to do? Starting goalies don't grow on trees, but at this point it looks like Yzerman's best option is to plant that Dwayne Roloson tree in the back yard and hope he can rekindle some magic in the form of a starting goalie somewhere, somehow.

The Anaheim Ducks are a complete mess. Jonas Hiller has struggled, their top line has been ineffective. Ryan Getzlaf is on pace for 13 goals. Ryan, Getzlaf, and Perry are a combined -31. Trade rumors have circulated about Corey Perry, and perhaps the time is now to deal him. Perry could fetch a high return, likely a first rounder or two and a top prospect or two. The Ducks are not in need of a complete demolition of their roster, but Teemu Selanne and Saku Koivu are inching closer to retirement every day and their contributions will need to be replaced. The Ducks have a decent prospect pool, but can Kyle Palmeiri and Emerson Etem be counted on to replace Teemu Selanne? Not yet, anyways. The Ducks need to add youth, and there's no easier way to do that than by moving one of their high-priced stars for pieces of the future.

All three teams have one thing in common: the need to add prospects. Youth is key in the NHL today. Free agency has it's place, but as many teams have learned, it's not the way to build a contender. Careful drafting and stockpiling of prospects is most effective. Perhaps the GMs in all three towns will get the memo before it's too late.

GOH

Year In Review: 2011

2011 was highlighted by triumph and underscored by tragedy. By any measure, 2011 was a newsworthy year for hockey all around. Let's get to the highlights:

-The year started with tragedy as Sidney Crosby suffered a concussion on the first day of 2011 in the Winter Classic. Crosby would miss eleven months, return for eight games, then find himself shelved again with concussion symptoms. Unfortunately for Crosby and the NHL, concussions highlighted hockey in 2011. To name a few, Chris Pronger, Jeff Skinner, Shea Weber, Mike Richards, Kris Letang, Claude Giroux, Milan Michalek, Marc Staal, Nino Niederreiter, Ryan Miller, and James Reimer all joined Crosby on the IR with concussions. Scary stuff that the NHL must take steps in addressing in 2011.

-2011 also got off to a flying start at the international level with the Russian junior team coming from a seemingly insurmountable deficit to upend the favored Canadian squad days after the calendar turned. Down 3-0 heading into the third, the Russians exploded for five goals in the final frame to stun the Canadians. Lead by Yevgeni Kuznetsov and Vladimir Tarasenko, who are both likely NHL bound in the near future, the happy-go-lucky Russians made their mark, winning their first gold at the WJHC since 2003.

-The Stanley Cup playoffs were a spectacle as usual. 465-year-old Dwayne Roloson carried the Lightning to the Eastern Conference Finals. The Bruins rallied from 2-0 series deficits against Montreal and Vancouver en route to their first Stanley Cup in four decades. It took seven games, but the Canucks finally beat the Blackhawks in the playoffs. Oh, and the playoffs produced this Bobby Ryan goal:

-The Stanley Cup Finals produced the best and the worst in two different  cities. The Bruins employed a team concept and won their first Cup since 1972. The Vancouver Canucks failed to claim their first championship, and fans responded by burning down the city, causing millions of dollars of damage and tarnishing the reputation of a well-respected city (Dave Bolland may disagree). But hey, it did give birth to this wonderful photograph, courtesy of Rich Lam:

-The summer came and went and saw all sorts of news. Taking the forefront was the NHL's return to Winnipeg after the Atlanta Spirit sold, and sold out, the Atlanta Thrashers. Jets season tickets sold out in minutes and Thrashers fans were left to grieve. It was a hyperbolic moment for two NHL cities; Winnipeg got the Jets back after a 15 year hiatus and Atlanta was left wondering, again, if NHL hockey would ever return to the deep south.

-The summer was also riddled by tragedy and controversy. The NHL fell under scrutiny and fighting in hockey was called into question when enforcers Derek Boogaard, Rick Rypien, and Wade Belak were all found dead, their deaths linked to problems stemming from living rough-and-tumble lives as NHL enforcers. As if the hockey world wasn't already in mourning, Lokomotiv of the KHL saw their team jet crash and burn, killing 43 people including former NHLers Pavol Demitra, Ruslan Salei, Josef Vasicek, and Brad McCrimmon to name a few. It was a difficult summer for hockey fans, capping a 2011 that was filled with hockey tragedy that went far beyond the rink.

-The beginning of the 2011-2012 season has been a magnificent one. The Minnesota Wild, St. Louis Blues, Florida Panthers, Toronto Maple Leafs, and Winnipeg Jets are all relevant again. HBO's 24/7 is again a smash hit, chronicling the Flyers and Rangers en route to the Winter Classic. The NHL signed a $2 billion TV contract. Things are looking up for hockey without a doubt, and hopefully it can carry it's positive gains in 2011 over to 2012.

GOH

Mailbag: 12/20/11

So, as you devoted readers know, normally I release the Mailbag on Saturdays. I drank way too much beer this weekend, and as you know, beer comes before crappy hockey blogging, so the Mailbag is a little late this week. But without further adieu, here goes:

Do you see the Caps actually trading Alexander Semin or is simply too risky?


Michael
Newton, Massachusetts

Semin will likely be a Capital for the duration of 2011-2012.

I can't see it happening for a few reasons. Semin is an unrestricted free agent after this season and has a $6.7 million cap hit which would be pro-rated throughout the rest of the season. Semin is an all-world talent but only has 6 goals and 6 assists in 28 games this season. The asking price would be pretty steep for a player of Semin's merit and there's a pretty high risk that he'll leave for Russia, or the Capitals, after the season. He could bolster a contender, but the reality is he's not exactly your typical trade deadline piece, the way Ilya Kovalchuk wasn't what the Devils needed in 2010. Contenders are looking to add pieces, not superstars, and Semin doesn't fit the bill.

Do you think Darryl Sutter is a good fix as coach of the Kings?


Dale
Sacramento, California


No. Shall I elaborate? First, the Kings haven't responded to the firing of Terry Murray. As abrasive as Sutter can be, he hasn't coached since 2006. Other than driving the Flames to the Finals in 2004, Sutter has been past the second round once since his coaching career began in 1993. His teams have historically under-achieved and have never been able to score, which is the Kings biggest problem at the moment (they are last in goal scoring in the entire league). Defense is nice, but the Kings need to score. Sutter will not help alleviate that.

Can the Hurricanes build on their big win over Vancouver last week?


Kevin
Stratham, New Hampshire


Absolutely. They played a hard-fought overtime game against Florida that ended in defeat (Carolina is 0-6 in OT this year) but beyond the Vancouver game the Canes are playing very well under Kirk Muller. The results haven't been there but the team has played a much better team game and you can feel a breakout coming. Phoenix at home will be a big test on Wednesday and losing Jeff Skinner and Joni Pitkanen to concussions indefinitely will obviously hurt. But the Canes have enough firepower, coupled with Cam Ward playing better, to try and make a second-half push. Despite being wretched they only sit 9 points out of the 8th playoff spot with 48 games remaining.

The NHL and NBA both had their lockouts. What do you think the NHL did to make itself more successful that the NBA didn't?


Kyle
Washington, New Jersey


The lockout was really a rebirth for the NHL. It made the product far more fan-friendly by adding rules that open up scoring. The hard salary cap was also incredibly important despite its inflation over the past few seasons. By leveling the playing field, hockey has grown in markets like Nashville, Carolina, and Dallas where all teams have been able to compete with big spenders like Detroit and Montreal. The NBA doesn't have a hard salary cap the way the NHL does and subsequently many teams have been out of playoff contention for years. Having more scoring, a faster game, more TV relevance with events like the Winter Classic and a $2 billion TV deal, the NHL has made huge strides in progressing what was a once stagnant game that other major sports leagues such as the NBA haven't made. The NHL is undoubtedly gaining popularity while the NBA is treading water.

Pegging the Top 5 Cup Contenders

The hot-button topic around the NHL today has been concussions, with Chris Pronger's career in jeopardy, Jeff Skinner and Joni Pitkanen sidelined in Carolina, Sidney Crosby missing action yet again, and Claude Giroux out in jeopardy. So, we're going to take this opportunity to talk about something completely different. It's only December, but who are the top five contenders to snag Lord Stanley's hardware come June?

The Bet 365 odds for the Stanley Cup pegs the Pittsburgh Penguins, Boston Bruins, and Philadelphia Flyers at 13/2 favorites to win the Cup. But who are the real contenders?

1. Boston Bruins

The Bruins appear poised for another run, recovering from
a slow start to go 17-2-1 in their last 20.

After a slow start, the Bruins are on a tear. They're 17-2-1 since losing back-to-back games against Montreal at the end of October and appear to have cured their Cup hangover. The Bruins are sound in all facets of the game and can roll four solid lines. The Bruins penalty kill is third in the NHL at 87.9%, they win the most face-offs at 55.5%, they've given up the fewest goals at 2.00 goals allowed per game, are 10-2-0 when they score first, and have the most 5-on-5 goals in the NHL at 75. They're complete all the way through and are anchored by Tim Thomas and Tuukka Rask's tandem, who have given up the fewest goals per game in the league despite the Bruins allowing the fifth-most shots per game. The Bruins are loaded for another Cup run. At this point the only question is whether or not they'll be able to maintain their stellar play all the way through June.

2. Philadelphia Flyers


With or without Chris Pronger and Claude Giroux, both of whom are out with concussions, the Flyers are deep and ready for a run. They finally have their goaltender in Ilya Bryzgalov, who is 10-1-1 since a 4-4-1 October. Rookie Matt Read has been exceptional, Scott Hartnell is on a career pace, and they've scored far and away the most goals in the league at 3.67 per game (110 total to Vancouver's 100). The Flyers don't appear to miss Mike Richards or Jeff Carter, both of whom are having their own struggles in their new towns. Wayne Simmonds is on pace for 25 goals which would top his career high of 16. Philly, finally backed by a goaltender, is in position to bring home its first Cup since 1975.

3. Vancouver Canucks


The Canucks, like their 2011 Stanley Cup Final opponents, started 2011-2012 slow. But the Canucks have turned a corner, save setbacks in Columbus and Carolina over the past few days. Vancouver doesn't appear to miss offensive defenseman Christian Erhoff; the 'Nucks power play is clicking at a league-best 25.4% and the Canucks have put up the 2nd-most goals in the NHL. Cory Schneider and Roberto Luongo have played admirably, especially as of late. Since getting embarrassed to the rival Blackhawks on November 16th, the Canucks have played 9-2-1 hockey. In the 9 wins, they gave up 9 goals. Vancouver is a very talented hockey team with something to prove. Talent, combined with a chip on its shoulder, can be a very dangerous thing.

4. Chicago Blackhawks


The 'Hawks are back after narrowly slipping into the playoffs in 2011. The Blackhawks are sitting in second-place in the Western Conference behind the pace-setting Minnesota Wild with a game in hand. Most importantly, the Hawks are 10-2-4 in one-goal games, showing they have some grit to match their talent. Jonathan Toews, Marian Hossa, Patrick Kane and Patrick Sharp all have 30+ points and are all in the top-20 in NHL scoring. The biggest question for Chicago will be goaltending. Corey Crawford has a 3.00 GAA an a sub-.900 save percentage. The Hawks are deep enough both on offense and on the back end to make up for it, and Crawford is certainly capable; he notched a 2.30 GAA to accompany a .917 SV% in 57 games last season. Once Crawford steadies himself, the Blackhawks will round out into a President's Trophy contender and eventually a Stanley Cup front-runner.

5. Pittsburgh Penguins


Logic would indicate that Sidney Crosby will be healthy by April. Even if he's not, the Penguins are good enough to make a run without him. How a team can be pegged a Cup favorite without arguable the best player in the world in the line-up speaks to the Penguins depth. But keep in mind they still have Marc-Andre Fleury between the pipes, Evgeni Malkin and James Neal tied for the lead in team scoring with 29 points apiece, and have the NHL's 4th-best penalty kill at 87.5% (92.5% at home). The Penguins are a talent-laden, extremely deep hockey club and adding Crosby to a mix of Malkin, Neal, Jordan Staal, and Chris Kunitz is even scarier. When you can score goals like Pittsburgh, coupled with a goalie that can stop pucks like Fleury, the Penguins will be a force to be reckoned with come playoff time.

BEST OF THE REST


The Rangers have outside hopes of making a Cup run and will benefit of the addition of Marc Staal should be back by playoff time. Detroit will be in the mix as usual, but their core is aging and they haven't made a ton of noise since losing to Pittsburgh in the Finals in 2009. Florida and Minnesota are having nice starts but are still a year or two away from being legitimate Cup contenders.

Who is your Cup favorite through the first 30 games? Post your comments below. Don't forget to submit a question at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com or on Twitter @glovesoffhockey for tomorrow's mailbag!

Snapshots: 12/13/11

How goes it? Crazy couple of days in the NHL with a few quick topics to get to on your Tuesday afternoon. Let's jump right into it:

-The Kings fired coach Terry Murray, joining Bruce Boudreau, Randy Carlyle, Paul Maurice, and Davis Payne has NHL coaches to be axed this season. That's 17% of NHL teams that have made a coaching change in the first two months of the season.

-The Kings head to Boston tonight to take on the Bruins. The Kings are scoring 2.21 goals per game and have the league's 21st ranked power play. Those Simon Gagne and Mike Richards additions haven't been paying off as planned.

Andy Sutton has forfeited over $260,000 in salary as a result
of suspensions in 2011-2012.

-Andy Sutton is griping  that the NHL needs a better appeals process for suspensions. Or hey, Andy, you could try keeping your elbows   down a little bit.

-Sad news from Pittsburgh as Sidney Crosby is experiencing concussion syndromes after an intense battle with Boston last week. Here's to hoping The Kid will be back soon for the good of the game.

-Some trades have begun, starting with this deal  with the Ducks and Devils. The Devils receive defenseman Kurtis Foster and goaltender Timo Pielmeier and the Ducks snag Rod Pelley, Mark Fraser, and the ever-valuable seventh-round pick. Foster has a rocket of a shot and Pelley is a quality grinder. Pretty low-key tweaks for both teams that should benefit all parties.

-Lightning forward Steve Downie was fined $2500 for leaving the bench during the Artem Anisimov Modern Warfare spoof. I'm actually surprised he didn't get a game or two, as leaving the bench is typically frowned upon.

-In other concussion news, Claude Giroux of the Flyers is out indefinitely with concussion symptoms. Giroux leads the NHL in scoring with 39 points (16 G, 23) through his first 28 games.

-The Jets have claimed Antii Miettinen off waivers. Because they needed more 9th-line forwards.

That's all for today. A full slate of 12 NHL games tonight, including Vancouver travelling to Columbus and the Flyers heading to Washington. More from around the NHL tomorrow at Gloves Off Hockey!

Pretenders & Contenders...Who's For Real?

We're a little over two months into the NHL's regular season and the standings are starting to align and give us an idea of what the playoff races might start to shape up as. And while it's too early to tell (you may recall the Atlanta Thrashers lead the Southeast Division on December 18th last year before failing to make the playoffs) it's time to start determining what teams are playoff contenders and who's hot starts are merely a mirage.

FLORIDA PANTHERS


Why they're a contender: Kevin Dineen, Gloves Off Hockey's pre-season Jack Adams award winner (I like to toot my horn horn wherever possible, should he win) has the completely overhauled Panthers playing like champions. Leading the Southeast and coming off wins over Boston, Washington, and San Jose, the Panthers have proven they can play with anyone. Jose Theodore has been solid and the power play is clicking at 19.2%, good for 8th in the NHL. Brian Campbell is enjoying a renaissance and is second among NHL defensemen in points and assists, which is huge considering the size and length of his contract. This is not your older brother's Panthers who have not made the playoffs in over a decade.
Why they're a pretender: Let's face it. Jose Theodore, Scott Clemmensen, and Jacob Markstrom are not exactly top-flight goaltenders. It makes you wonder when one is going to give out. Theodore has carried the bulk of the load and is 11-6-3 with a 2.39 GAA and a .920 SV%. But since 2002, Theodore has been a pedestrian goaltender and it makes one wonder when he's going to give out. The Panthers also give up the 7th-most shots per game in the league at 31.4 per game, leaving way too much work on the goaltenders. The biggest question in Sunrise is if the keepers will keep stopping pucks.
VERDICT: CONTENDER


MINNESOTA WILD

The Wild are off to a torrid start, sitting at 20-7-3,
good for best in the NHL.

Why they're a contender: The Wild are the best team in the NHL right now, which is remarkable to think about. They've won seven in a row and show no signs of slowing down. But how have they done it? A rebirth in their commitment to defense has gone a long way. The Wild are giving up just 2.10 goals per game, 3rd-best in the NHL. They win tight games (11-2-3 in one-goal games) and are shutting opponents down. They're scoring at the same rate as last year (up from 2.48 to 2.50 this year) but their GAA is down from 2.78, over a half a goal per game. When the Wild are playing tight defense, they're impossible to stop.
Why they're a pretender: In the high-flying Western Conference, you need to be able to score some goals. They have the third-most goals in their own division behind Vancouver and Edmonton. Dany Heatley has been very meh in his first season in Minnesota, posting 9 goals and 11 assists in his first 30 games, putting him on pace for 25 G and 30 A...a far cry from his 100+ point seasons in Ottawa a few years back. The Wild need to put a few pucks in the net because not every game, especially come playoff time, is going to be a 2-1 snooze-fest.
VERDICT: CONTENDER


ST. LOUIS BLUES


Why they're a contender: Man, oh man. Ken Hitchcock still has a little magic left in the wand, eh? 9-2-3 since Hitchcock took over as Blues coach, St. Louis has catapulted up the standings and finds themselves in playoff position. David Perron is back and doesn't appear hindered by a concussion that kept him out 97 games dating back to last season, posting 3 points in his first 4 games back. The Blues have balanced scoring and what may be most impressive is their team defense, though not surprising under a defensive mastermind such as Hitchcock. They have the best team defense in the NHL at 2.03 GAA, a marked improvement from last season when they yielded 2.78 goals against per game. Defense wins, and the Blues are playing some excellent D under Hitch.
Why they're a pretender: The team defense is stunning, yes, but at the backbone of it all is Brian Elliot. Elliot is a superhuman 12-2-0 with a 1.45 GAA and a .947 SV% on the year. These are stunning numbers, but can Elliot keep it up? Likely not. This is a guy who, while having a great year, had a GAA well over 3 last season and before that had never had a save percentage above .909. While Elliot's run is impressive and he will benefit from a tight defensive system, something has to give somewhere. His Jacques Plante-esque numbers can't continue, and when they go so will the Blues.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


TORONTO MAPLE LEAFS

Can Phil Kessel maintain his 50-goal pace?

Why they're a contender: Well, there's that Phil Kessel guy everyone has been talking about. Finally getting the scorer they thought they had when the Leafs gave up a pair of first rounders to the Bruins a few years back, Kessel has dazzled all season. He is a notably streaky scorer, but he hasn't shown many signs of cooling this season, posting 5 points in his last 5 games. Kessel, on pace for 50 goals, is getting help from Joffrey Lupul (13 G, 20 A) and the Leafs are getting solid defense out of Dion Phaneuf and Luke Schenn, who leads NHL defenseman in hits with 87. It's been an exciting start for the Leafs, who have not made the playoffs since before the lockout and with Kessel, Lupul, and Phaneuf leading the charge there's no reason to think it slows.
Why they're a pretender: Of course, there are a few reasons it could slow. As is a common denominator with many of these contender/pretender teams, you have to look between the pipes. James Reimer has a 2.96 GAA and a .896 SV% in 9 games. Ben Scrivens has a 2.96 and a .904 SV% in 8 games. And Jonas Gustavsson has a 3.13 GAA and a .901 SV% in 15 games. Those are all ugly numbers. Compound that with the Leafs second-worst penalty kill (74.3%) and the Leafs simply do not play enough defense to contend. Scoring goals is one thing, but you have to be able to play some sort of defense and the Leafs have shown no capacity to do so.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


DALLAS STARS


Why they're a contender: The Stars have turned everyone else trash into their treasure. Spending wisely in the off-season, the Stars added guys like Michael Ryder (9 G, 8 A), Sheldon Souray (4 G, 9 A, +7), and Radek Dvorak (3 G, 10 A) to a young, budding team. The results have been encouraging. Sitting atop the Pacific in a tie with Phoenix, the Stars have come out flying largely in part to Kari Lehtenon's resurgence. The Finnish netminder has been other-worldly, posting a 13-4-1 record to accompany a 2.34 GAA and a .926 SV%. Unfortunately for Lehtenon, his noodle groin has let him down again and he's shelved until after Christmas. The Stars will have to find a way to stay afloat in his absence.
Why they're a pretender: The Stars are very average. Their power play is 22nd, penalty kill 12th, they score the 19th most goals and they are 17th in GA. Since November 8th, when the Stars beat the Caps and moved to 11-3-0, they are 5-8-1 including losses to the Islanders, Maple Leafs, and Avalanche. In fact, in their 8 regulation losses since November 8th, they've been outscored 34-10, scoring one goal or less five times. The Stars are a very average team and their shortcomings are starting to show as the season wears on. They're a good story early on but do not have the firepower to hang in the Western Conference.
VERDICT: PRETENDER


GOH

Mailbag: 12/10/11

Hello all. Thanks for submitting questions for this week's mailbag. It was an interesting week around hockey, so let's get to it:

What are your thoughts on the Tyler Seguin benching?


Kevin 
Stratham, New Hampshire


I like the message it sends. Accidental or not, leading scorer or not, Seguin missed a team breakfast and was subsequently benched for it. Not the biggest offense in the world, of course, but it sends a message to Seguin and to the rest of the Bruins that they're in it together and everyone plays by the same rules. Claude Julien is a rigid, yet well-liked, coach and this should get the ear of his players once again. Even with the Bruins playing as well as they are there is always room for improvement and always accountability, something the Bruins preach while playing their team-first concept that lead them to the Stanley Cup in 2011.

Do you think Anaheim should make a drastic move to save their season or will the addition of new coach Bruce Boudreau be enough?


Mike
Newton, Massachusetts


It's obvious the Ducks have a talent-laden roster. But sitting a point out of last in the Western Conference is certainly uncharted territory for the Ducks, who have been incredibly successful under coach Randy Carlyle since winning the Stanley Cup in 2007. But this Ducks roster should be able to win as is. The Bobby Ryan trade has been called off since the addition of Boudreau and rightfully so. It will take a few weeks for the team to completely gel under Boudreau, but the reality is they have a good young core and don't need to blow up the roster. The reality is the Ducks have in-house problems to clean up; they're currently 26th in the NHL in team defense at 3.21 goals against per game. The Ducks have been giving up 31.8 shots per game and have only won 22.2% of the games when they've actually out-shot their opponents. The Ducks don't need a big move to turn things around; they need to start playing better hockey from the crease out, something that Bruce Boudreau can hopefully facilitate.

Outside of Quebec City, Las Vegas, and Kansas City, which markets do you think could support an NHL franchise?


Brett
Chesire, Connecticut

Is it time for the NHL to return to Kansas City? 

Well, for one, I don't think Las Vegas could support one. There is too much population turnover to build a fan base. I think some of the markets the NHL has to take a look at in the future are Seattle, Washington and possibly Milwaukee, Wisconsin. There is plenty of hockey support out in Seattle for their WHL team, the Seattle Thunderbirds, and an NHL team could come calling at some point. While it's one thing to sell out WHL games and another to sell out NHL games, it would be an interesting venture for the league. Milwaukee would be another interesting pick; University of Wisconsin hockey plays to sell out crowds and there is a deep love of the game in the northwest. The only concern would be Milwaukee's proximity to Minnesota. Kansas City is an interesting option that the NHL will probably explore some day, but for now, I'm not sold. The first place I'd put a new team is Quebec City, then give Seattle a shot.

How did the Hurricanes manage to get ANYTHING for Tomas Kaberle, let alone a reliable veteran defenseman?


Jesse
Raleigh, North Carolina


I'm not particularly sure here. Montreal is certainly paying for what has been and not what is when it comes to Kaberle (though he currently has two assists on two goals in his first game as a Hab). But the fact is this: since leaving Toronto, Kaberle has been wretched both in Boston and in Carolina. Jarsolav Spacek is a nice pick-up for the Canes and with his deal expiring after this season gives the Canes flexibility moving forward should defenseman Brian Dumoulin (Boston College) or Ryan Murphy (Kitchener Rangers) be able to crack the NHL squad. To answer the question, I'm not totally sure how Canes GM Jim Rutheford sold Kaberle to Montreal as "someone who will help the power play" but he did and Carolina fans should be grateful.

Thanks again for another exciting Mailbag!

Check back soon for more Gloves Off Hockey.
   

Quick Thoughts on Realignment; Other Tidbits

The NHL has drastically realigned their conferences as a result of the Atlanta Thrashers flying north to Winnipeg. It was a massive overhaul, approved for next season, and sees the conferences shake out as such:

CONFERENCE A:    
Anaheim Ducks
Calgary Flames
Colorado Avalanche
Edmonton Oilers
Los Angeles Kings
Phoenix Coyotes
San Jose Sharks
Vancouver Canucks

CONFERENCE B:
Chicago Blackhawks
Columbus Blue Jackets
Dallas Stars
Detroit Red Wings
Minnesota Wild
Nashville Predators
St. Louis Blues
Winnipeg Jets

CONFERENCE C:
Boston Bruins
Buffalo Sabres
Florida Panthers
Montreal Canadiens
Ottawa Senators
Tampa Bay Lightning
Toronto Maple Leafs

CONFERENCE D:
Carolina Hurricanes
New Jersey Devils
New York Islanders
New York Rangers
Philadelphia Flyers
Pittsburgh Penguins
Washington Capitals

My initials thoughts are this: I like it overall. Travel is reduced for everyone but the Florida teams, but the financial impact will be great on the Panthers and the Lightning. Playing three home games a year against Ottawa, Buffalo, Boston, Montreal, and Toronto will help an attendance spike due to the high number of transplants down South. I'm also a huge backer of a balanced schedule, and now everyone will play a home-and-home with everyone. The top teams and stars will be in every building every year, something great for growing the game.

My only qualm: the single home-and-home games between teams like Philadelphia/Boston or Colorado/Detroit will help squelch some of the regional rivalries that have developed over time. But as a whole, realignment works well. No, Detroit, Columbus and Nashville didn't move east, but their travel will be greatly reduced by not having to make California trips on a weekly basis.

Otherwise, the Pacific time zone teams keep to themselves for the most part and the old Patrick Division is restored, with the addition of the Hurricanes. The NHL got this one right, withholding how they decided to do the final four after conference champions are decided. A re-seeding would be annoying in some senses; should Conference A & B be in a West region an Conferences C & D be in an Eastern region with the winner of the A vs. B semifinal and C vs. D semifinal play for the Cup? All that will be hammered out as this all takes shape, but as far as the actual realignment...I'm a fan.

OTHER HEADLINES...


-Hurricanes GM Jim Rutherford is growing tired of Tomas Kaberle. From thefourthperiod.com: "He got off to a slow start," said Rutherford. "Now he has to figure out how to get out of it or he won't be playing for the Hurricanes for long." Yikes.

-Following up last night's blog, Jordin Tootoo received two games for running Ryan Miller this weekend. Sounds about right.

-Can we put to rest this whole "Alex Ovechkin is a steroidaholic" thing?

-For my Maine readers, Patrick O'Sullivan will be reporting to the Portland Pirates after clearing waivers. The Pirates are next home against the Manchester Monarchs on December 14th.

More to come tomorrow!

GOH

On Running Goaltenders...

After another incident with Ryan Miller, this time with Jordin Tootoo barreling through his crease, leaping and taking Miller out. The Sabres, under heavy scrutiny for not coming to Miller's defense last month when Milan Lucic ran him over and subsequently concussed him, the Sabres wasted no time in pouncing on a defenseless Tootoo.

The video:

Pretty nasty stuff. The point isn't whether or not Tootoo could have avoided the hit, but the more pressing issue at hand: how far is too far when it comes to crashing the crease and taking out goaltenders?

Sabres coach Lindy Ruff is hoping the NHL reacts with a heavy hand:

"I hope to see a strong message," Ruff said following practice. "Really, it’s just time. I just hope they do the right thing with it.

"I understand with a phone hearing the max you’re going to get is [a five-game suspension]. In my eyes, is that a big message? It’s OK. I look at the NFL and I look at the Detroit Lion [Ndamukong Suh] that got two games for a 6-inch kick. He got kicked out of the game, and then that amounted to one-eighth of our season. That’s a 10-game suspension. I think they do it right. The message there is we’re not putting up with this stuff. I think we need a strong message. Is five strong enough? I don’t know."

But what can be done? Goaltenders are in a unique position. It's an unwritten rule that goaltenders don't get touched, even when they vacate the crease. Because of this it puts them in a vulnerable position. It's one thing for a defenseman to get smoked in front of the net; they are expecting contact. But when a goaltender is focused on playing the puck and gets bowled over; well, that's another story.

What should the NHL do? Is it even a problem, or just an overreaction to a star goaltender getting smoked in consecutive starts (that were a month apart)? I don't believe major rule changes are in order, however there needs to be a clear understanding of what is acceptable and off-limits when it comes to playing a goaltender, especially where they are susceptible to injury.

In Tootoo's case, I don't think a huge suspension is warranted. But the NHL should send some sort of a message--a few games or so--to make it clear that it is not indeed open season on goaltenders. Goaltenders are such a valuable part of a team and to have one injured with a careless play would be unfortunate.

Canucks coach Alain Vigneault chimed in on the issue  in The Province, echoing those sentiments:

"You want your players to go to those areas and be a good net presence and it's a hard league to score goals in," the Vancouver Canucks coach said Sunday. "But obviously, you want your goaltenders to be protected - I want all 30 to be protected. It's a position that's important, but it's a fine line there and some obviously cross the line and that makes it very challenging for referees and everybody else in the game."

The timing in Tootoo's hit is poor and hopefully that doesn't weigh into the decision making on a suspension. Whether or not the play is clean, plays like it need to be avoided in the future to keep goalies on the ice and out of the press box.

GOH

Mailbag: 12/3/11

A few tidbits of stuff to get to from this weeks mailbag. Thanks for all your submissions. I had a tough time narrowing down the best questions, so here goes nothing:

Despite Kyle Turris' lack of NHL success, which NHL teams do you think could benefit from his addition?


Mike
Newton, Massachusetts


Kyle Turris is still a bit of a project with the Coyotes and despite GM Don Maloney's public statements it's feasible to see him traded after a lengthy holdout that was just resolved last week. He does have some scoring touch and saw raw potential and you wonder if he could be an asset despite the off-ice issues. I would say a team like Columbus would take a flyer on him, given they have some pieces that could be moved. If Turris did get moved, I could see it being out east to the Islanders or to the Dallas Stars, even though they're in Phoenix's division. Dallas has built itself a great season with other reclamation projects like Turris.

How do you  feel about Roberto Luongo's slow start and subsequent benching? Do you see Cory Schneider taking on a bigger role?


Kevin
Stratham, New Hampshire


I definitely see Schneider taking on more of a platoon role in the Vancouver pipes; at least for now. Luongo is coming back from injury and is being eased in, and with fantastic play from Schneider there's no need to over-saturate him. However, in almost equal playing time Schneider has amassed a save percentage 40 points higher (.930 to Luongos .890) and a GAA of 2.12 to Luongos 3.05. Be it injury or confidence, Luongo is struggling out of the gates and while he's doing to Cory Schneider is a fantastic back-up plan.

Do you think Tomas Kaberle will play out his full contract (3 y/$12.75 million) in Carolina?


Keith
Augusta, Maine


Keith, it's hard to see Kaberle playing out too much of that contract. He's been ineffective in Carolina, totaling no goals and 5 assists in his first 26 games, including being a healthy scratch for Paul Maurice's last game as coach. He's -13, has a total of 3 power play points, and has looked lost on both sides of the puck. All that said, he's built an incredible career and at 33 somebody will take a flyer on him. If GM Jim Rutherford can flip him for a top-6 forward I'd consider it done, but the Canes will have to unload picks or prospects to make it happen in a salary dump kind of move. So the short of it: no, I don't think he'll play out the entire thing, or much more of it.

What NHL coaches could you see being fired next?


Kyle
Washington, New Jersey


Well, after the carousel of this past week it leaves you wondering who could be next. My three guesses are Jacques Martin in Montreal, Brent Sutter in Calgary, and Scott Arneil in Columbus. Lindy Ruff may be out after the season if the Sabres fail to make some noise in the post-season after spending all the money in the off-season. But the reality is this: the Canadiens and Flames are both in big-time hockey markets and are struggling mightily. The Canadiens look flat and the Flames just need to go through and clean house, coaches and players included. Scott Arneil appears to have saved his job for now, but the reality is the Blue Jackets are 7-16-3 despite adding big pieces in the off-season. I could easily see Martin being replaced in the next two weeks, especially if the Canadiens struggle in their upcoming run of Western Conferences games against Los Angeles, Columbus, and Vancouver.

That's all for this week! Remember to submit your questions for next week's Mailbag!

GOH

Snapshots: 12/2/11

Lots to get to in the NHL today, so let's get it going:

-Bruce Boudreau will coach his first game with the Ducks tonight. According to Elias Sports Bureau, Boudreau's short unemployment was the shortest in NHL history at four days. Boudreau will coach against a team he's familiar with tonight as the Philadelphia Flyers head to Anaheim.

-With Boudreau hired, it appears Bobby Ryan will be off the trading block for now. The Rangers, Maple Leafs, and Hurricanes were all kicking the tires on Ryan and while he may be moved at some point, it appears a trade is no longer imminent.

-Cool story here from Yahoo!  about Erik Cole flying Louis Leblanc's parents out to his first NHL game.

Doan (above) was booed mercilessly in his first game in
Winnipeg since playing for the Jets 15 years ago. (Getty)

-The Winnipeg Jets version 2.0 beat the Winnipeg Jets version 1.0 last night at the MTS Centre, with the Coyotes failing to register a goal in a 1-0 defeat. Jets fans welcomed back Shane Doan by booing him relentlessly, a pretty classless act towards a pretty classy guy.

-Allan Walsh, agent for players like Ilya Kovalchuk and Martin Havlat, has decided he's seen enough of his client, Derick Brassard's, coach in Columbus. For those too lazy to click the link, Walsh had this to say about Scott Arniel, who has scratched Brassard seven times in the last ten games:

"While I have tremendous respect for (general manager) Scott Howson and the rest of Columbus' management team, the situation regarding Derick Brassard has become untenable. The coach has a history of burying players and using them as scapegoats to mask his own lack of success on the ice. Derick has been singled out, almost from the very beginning of the season, to be the fall guy in case things don't go well. The Columbus organization cares about Derick and has been good to him, but at some point, one has to say, enough is enough."

Here's an idea, Allan: make sure your client knows he's on an 8-goal pace after posting 2 goals in 18 games this season.

-We touched on it last blog, but Derek Joslin was not suspended for his hit on Kris Versteeg in Tuesday's Panthers/Hurricanes game.

-Some great news out of St. Louis with David Perron set to come back  after missing 97 games with a concussion.

-What to do in the Vancouver crease? Cory Schneider gave up 3 goals on 5 shots last night against Nashville, and was relieved by Roberto Luongo who gave up 3 more on 15 shots, including the game-winner with 1:16 left. The Canucks, buoyed by Schneider, had won five in a row coming in, outscoring opponents 17-4.


Make sure you get your mailbag questions in for tomorrow's new blog!

GOH

Snapshots: 11/30/2011

It's been an interesting week in the NHL for sure. Two coaches fired, Bobby Ryan trade rumors, and a handful of other exciting goodies. To touch on them:

-Bobby Ryan says he "wouldn't be shocked by a trade". There have been a lot of rumblings about it, mostly in Toronto and with the New York Rangers. Toronto would be a logical fit as he is Brian Burke's draftee and the Rangers could use a 30-goal scorer. The package that the Ducks will want in return will be substantial; likely a first round pick, a young top-6 winger and a top prospect. Not sure if Toronto can conjure that up without denting their already depleted farm system, nor can they afford to move any more first rounders.

-There were scouts from the Leafs, Stars, Kings, Blackhawks, Canucks, and Avalanche at last night's Hurricanes/Panthers game. Not sure who they were looking at, but it's safe to say Tomas Kaberle may be on the block in Carolina. Kaberle has no goals and five assists in 25 games this season and is a -12, worst among Carolina defenseman and third worst among NHL defenseman. For a guy averaging 19:21 a game and getting paid over $4 million, those numbers don't cut it and I wouldn't be surprised to see someone take a flyer on him.

-Bruce Boudreau is taking the high road in his firing, saying that he never once considered stripping Alex Ovechkin of his captaincy and saying the two "got along famously". Not even sure what that means, but it makes you wonder how much, if anything, Boudreau is holding back.

-The NHL is looking at this Derek Joslin hit on Kris Versteeg. I'd say he sits two.

-In other exciting news, the Blue Jackets are almost out of the basement. It's tough to be a Ducks fan at the moment.

-Former Lewiston Maineiac Kevin Marshall was recalled by the Philadelphia Flyers this season. He's pointless in two NHL games and a -2 this season.

-Finally, I'll leave you with this thought provoking question: your team is going to trade for Bobby Ryan. What do you give up for him? Post your comments below.

GOH

Coaching Overhaul In Southeast Division

Two Southeast Division teams, both with evident expectations, have fired their head coaches within a few hours on Monday morning. Paul Maurice was let go by the Carolina Hurricanes and the HBO star Bruce Boudreau was terminated by the Washington Capitals. Two different coaches, two different histories, but one common underpinning: their teams were underachieving.

The Capitals sit in 8th in the Eastern Conference, 3 points out of first place in the Southeast Division. They are off to a 12-9-1 start that has been marred by a 3-6-1 record in their last ten games and are burdened by superstar Alex Ovechkin's sub-par play; he has just 17 points through 22 games. A perceived rift between Boudreau and Ovechkin may have sealed Boudreau's fate; it's much easier to get rid of the coach than your $121 million superstar.

Boudreau went 201-88-40 in the regular season, leading the talent-laden Caps to four consecutive division titles in his four-plus seasons. He won the Jack Adams in 2007-2008 in his rookie season after taking over Glen Hanlon's Capitals and never looked back. But the players seemed to have tuned Boudreau out and his brash style may have run it's course in Washington. From an Associated Press excerpt, Capitals GM George McPhee weighed in on Boudreau's firing:

"This was simply a case of the players were no longer responding to Bruce. When you see that, as much as you don't want to make a change, you have to make a change," general manager George McPhee said.

"Bruce came in here and emptied the tank. He gave it everything he could and did a really good job, but the tank was empty," McPhee added. "When that happens, you get a new coach, where the tank is full and see if it makes a difference."

The Capitals are simply too loaded to be mired in another November swoon, similar to a stretch last season where the Caps dropped nine in a row in December. When your superstar has tuned you out, a change has to be made. Boudreau likely won't be unemployed for long. But in DC, the time to win is now, and Boudreau simply wasn't producing the results in a "what have you done for me lately?" league.

Dale Hunter will take over the reigns in the nation's capitol after coaching the London Knights from 2001-2002 on, winning the 2005 Memorial Cup. Hunter will demand accountability the way Boudreau failed to over the Caps listless stretch, something that was needed to shake up a stagnant locker room.

In Carolina, the situation is much different. The Caps were at least holding a playoff spot and they had a coach with a .611 winning percentage. Paul Maurice and his Hurricanes are stuck in dead last in the Southeast, four points ahead of the Islanders for last in the East and the Isles have played four fewer games. Realistically, the Canes have been the worst team in the Eastern Conference.

Maurice posted a .417 winning percentage in two stints
with the Carolina organization.

It was Maurice's second failed stint in Carolina, who went 384-391-99-46 overall in both his stints with Carolina, garnering just four playoff appearances in ten full seasons with a trip to the Finals in 2002. But, like in Washington, Maurice seemed to have lost his team with a rock-bottom effort in Montreal a week and a half ago. The Canes power play sits at 12.2%, good for 29th in the league. This came to the forefront yesterday in a 4-3 loss at Ottawa where the Canes went 1-for-8 on the power play. For a team that has been on the power play a league-best 115 times, the Canes simply weren't getting results under Maurice and a change was imminent.

The Canes bring in Kirk Muller, a long-respect assistant coach who had just two months of coaching the Milwaukee Admirals in the AHL (10-6-1), was brought in to replace Maurice. Muller, who was nicknamed "Kirk is Work", will expect his players to work hard in all facets of the game will hold his team accountable. He is versatile, something that is essential for a team like Carolina who is in transition. From Muller in the Montreal Gazette:

 
“You have to be good defensively, you have to be good without the puck,” he added. “But since the lockout and no red line, you’ve got to be able to score and you’ve got to be able to score at the right time. So I really stress for the guys to be a very aggressive forechecking team, and I tell my forwards that if they want to play here they gotta work … they’ve got to be workers and do a lot of skating and tracking down and heavy forecheck.”

The time was right in both Carolina and Washington. Maurice and Boudreau arenot bad coaches but they had overstayed their welcomes in their respective cities. In a results-driven league, it's simply business that is pushing these two out the door. Hunter and Muller will face different challenges respectively, but the overhauls for both squads was essential if they want to right the ship for a playoff drive.

GOH

Mail Bag for 11/26/11

Hello all. Life got in the way of this blog and I haven't been able to write much in the last few months but I'm going to give this thing another crack. The first blog of the stint is going to be the mail bag, where I field questions through Twitter (@GlovesOffHockey) or e-mail at glovesoffhockey@gmail.com. Feel free to submit your questions for next Saturdays blog! Without further adieu, your questions:

Do you think coach Kevin Dineen and the Panthers can continue their play and make the playoffs or will the fizzle out come crunch time?


Matt
Westbrook, Maine

New additions Fleischmann, Versteeg and
Campbell have powered the upstart Panthers.

The Panthers have been off to a torrid start and there's no reason to think they'll slow down. While I think Washington may still be the eventual Southeast Division champion, the Panthers are still sitting pretty with a three point lead over the Caps just after Black Friday. The Panthers have been the benefactors of a big summer that saw the acquisitions of Tomas Fleischmann, Brian Campbell, and Kris Versteeg to name a few. The biggest improvement under Kevin Dineen (who I said would win the Jack Adams back in August) has been special teams. The power play (19.1%) is ninth, up from 13.1% last season which was good for last in the NHL. The penalty kill, 6th last year, is 15th this year but is still an efficient 82.3%. The next five games will give us a better picture of where the Cats really stand with match-ups against Tampa Bay tonight, followed by tilts with Carolina, Los Angeles, San Jose, and Washington. When the dust settles I think the Panthers will steal one of the bottom three playoff spots in the Eastern Conference and Dineen will win the Jack Adams.

Who is your pick for Vezina Trophy?


Blake
Limington, Maine


There's been some stellar goaltending play in the NHL this season and through two months my pick would have to be Niklas Backstrom of the Minnesota Wild. Backstrom is 7-4-2 with a 1.97 GAA and a .935 S%, backstopping the Wild to the top spot in a tightly contested Western Conference. Tim Thomas will likely be in the discussion at season's end as well, as the two-time Vezina Trophy winner is off to a white-hot start, posting a 10-4-0 record, a 1.85 GAA and a .936 S% to accompany his three shutouts. Nikolai Khabibulin is off to an impressive start in Edmonton as well, helping the the young Oilers to 6th in the West, just three points out of the top spot. Former second overall pick Kari Lehtenon has also shocked many, helping Dallas to 5th in the West with a 13-4-1 record, a 2.35 GAA and a .926 S%. My early pick, however, has to go to Backstrom, who is playing his best hockey since his rookie campaign in 2006-2007.

What's been the reason for the Bruins successful November?


Tom 
Portland, Maine


As I said in August, I expected the Bruins to start slow. But the Bruins have put up points in every game in November, their only blemish a shootout loss on Black Friday against Detroit. The Bruins success can be largely tied to Tim Thomas, who has gone 7-0 with a 1.55 GAA and a .943 S% in November. The emergence of Tyler Seguin has been monumental as well, with Seguin showing why he was a second overall pick in 2010. Seguin is on pace for 88 points after scoring just 22 in his rookie campaign. During the Bruins incredible November run, Seguin has notched 13 points (8 G, 5 A) in 11 games and has been carrying the team on his back. The biggest thing for the Bruins has been their commitment to what made them successful in their Cup-winning 2010-2011 season--playing a gritty, physical game. The Bruins, mostly void of pure goal scorers outside of Seguin and Nathan Horton, have simplified the game, gotten pucks to the net, and have had their power play clicking much more efficiently in November. When the Bruins stick to what makes them effective they are as dangerous as they come in the NHL.

Do you expect the Hurricanes will have any problems re-signing Jeff Skinner and other key pieces in a few seasons?


Mike
Brookline, Massachusetts

The Canes biggest priority in the next few seasons:
lock up Jeff Skinner long-term.

The Canes are a particularly frugal team in today's NHL under Peter Karmanos, but that doesn't mean they can't spend money. The top priority after Jeff Skinner's entry level deal expires after the 2012-2013 season will be locking the phenom up long-term. Skinner could likely fetch a Jonathan Toews-esque deal, somewhere in the 5 year/$30 million range. The Canes are well under the cap but do have some restraints. That said, Tuomo Ruutu's $3.8 million cap hit comes off the books after 2012 which will open up space for the Canes to sign Skinner and Pat Dwyer. Tomas Kaberle's $4.25 million cap hit comes off after 2014, but Kaberle will likely be moved by then and the Canes will have some extra spending money. Bryan Allen and Tim Gleason's contracts are up after the season and logic would indicate both won't be brought back to make way for young guns Justin Faulk and, in the wings, Boston College stud Brian Dumoulin on the back end. The Canes have a good, young core in place and I don't think they'll have any issues keeping it in tact.

Do you think the Canucks can make some noise again in the post-season?


Ethan
Litchfield, Maine


I do and I don't. The Canucks have proven lethal on the power play this season, clicking at an NHL-best 24.5%, which goes a long way come April. But the Canucks have been plagued by inconsistent play and are in the middle of their longest winning streak of the season--three games. But, as it has been for a while now, the Canucks success rests on one man's shoulders--Roberto Luongo. Luongo has been hampered a little by injuries this season and Cory Schneider has filled in admirably. But if this team is going to make another Cup run, Luongo will need to be the man in the pipes. Luongo has put up pedestrian numbers this season with a 2.97 GAA and a .896 S% and has many Vancouver fans calling for the relinquishing of his starting role. Schneider has been remarkable, posting a 2.02 GAA and a .927 S% to go with his two shutouts, both of which have come in the last two games while a healthy Roberto Luongo watched from the bench. The bottom line is this: despite all the offensive firepower and star-studded line-up, as Roberto Luongo goes, so go the Vancouver Canucks. The Canucks will rally to make the playoffs, but I don't anticipate consecutive Finals appearances for the British Columbia boys.

That's all for this week. Hit me up with your questions and check back next week for another Mail Bag!

GOH